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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1953-02-24-min C 488 CC tO SELECTMEN'S MEETING February 24, 1953 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Tuesday, February 24th, at 7 :00 P. M. (The meet- ing being held on Tuesday due to the fact that Mon- day was a holiday. ) Chairman Nickerson, Messrs. Gay and Reed were present. The Clerk was also present. At 7 :00 P. M. Mr. James J. Carroll, Town Clerk, met with the Board for the drawing of two jurors. Jurors Mr. Gordon C. MacDonald, 1 Payson Road and Mr. Kenneth Gowdy, 41 Normandy Road, were drawn for jury service. Mr. Carroll retired at 7 :05 P. M. Letter was received from Mr. Carroll, Town Treasurer, advising that as of April 1, 1943, Lots 23-25 , Block 3-, Earle Street, were foreclosed for unpaid taxes for the years 1938 and 1939. At the time of the foreclosure the property was assessed to Patrick H. Ryan, gj/o_ Edward^T. Rya;' guardian and Patrick H. Ryan was and still is a hospitalized veteran. He ex- plained that under the Soldiers' and Sailors' Act Tax Title of 1940 the foreclosure was in error. The c6- property guardians are now making claim of the property and presented a check for $68 to cover all charges due at the time of foreclosure. - Letter was received from Mr. Sevens, Town Counsel, advising that, from information he re- ceived from Mr. Carroll, it appears that the title acquired to these lots by foreclosure of tax titles on April 1, 1943, is invalid. The situation can be straightened out by having the Board release all right, title and interest of the Town to the former owner in consideration of the check for $68 which was attached to Mr. Carrolla letter. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Reed, it was voted to revoke the foreclosure proceedings and further to release all rit, title and interest of the Town in consideration of the check for $68. Memorandum was received from the Massachusetts Selectmen' s Association with reference to two bills, S-33, and H-1073, in regard to proposed legislation Bills concerning Rent Control. The two bills will be heard by the Committee on Metropolitan Affairs at the State House, on Thursday, February 26th, at 10 :00 A. M. 11The Clerk was instructed to refer the communication to Town Counsel for his advice. 489 Letter was received from the Lexington Allied Veterans ' Council suggesting that the Selectmen take part in the 19th of April celebration by either April 19th marching with the staff as a body, riding in a car, Celebration or viewing the parade from the reviewing stand. The Board felt that there would be members available to ride in the parade with the invited guests. Certificate of Incorporation was received Prom Cert. of the Secretary of the Commonwealth on behalf of Alan Incorp. G. Slocombe, 18 Belfry Terrace. Satisfactory char- acter reference was received from the Chief of Police. The Chairman referred to the article in the war- rant with reference to acceptance of Chapter 781 of the Acts of 1951 and telephoned the Chairman of thelAp- propriation Committee to determine what recommendation Acts that group intends to make. He reported that the Com- mittee., for the amount of money involved, will not argue against acceptance of the Act and appropriating the necessary funds. Upon motion of Mr: Reed, seconded by Mr. Gly, it was voted to vote in the affirmative in regard to this article. Upon motion of Mr. Gay, seconded by Mr. Reed, it was voted to grant the following licenses: Licenses Lex. Amusement Co. 1794 Mass. Ave. Sunday Movies Richard P. Kelley 14 Reed St. Peddler Kathryn Modoono 421 Lowell St. Common Victualler The Chairman reported that Miss Crosby, Clerk in the Welfare Department, telephoned him about her salary. He explained to her that the Board had met with the Salaries Appropriation Committee and was in agreement on'most of the 1953 budgets, but that he would present her case to the Board. Mr. Reed and Mr. Gay stated that she had also called them on the same subject . The Chairman reported that the Chief of Police, following receipt of letter from the Appropriation Committee, in re approved budgets, requested an ap- Police pointment with him. He discussed the date he had re- Budget quested for starting the new school traffic police women and the date approved by the Appropriation Com- mittee; salaries approved for sergeants and salary approved for the Clerk. The three items were considered by the Board and it was voted to approve May 15th as the date foi' the police women to start training, to approve the ser- eants ' salaries at $3,850 per year and to approve $44.00 per week ($2.001 increase for the clerk. 490 The Chairman reported that the salaries as they CD now appear for the men in the Engineering Department and for the janitors are incorrect. He reported that the Appropriation Committee 's answer in this regard Salaries was that they would not go along, but also they will not argue the subject . The Board then voted to recommend a $200 increase per year for the men in the Engineering Department. It was also voted to approve an increase for the head janitor of $3.00, assistant $2.00 and second assist- ant $1.00. At 8:00 P. M. hearing was declared open upon the intention of the Board to lay out Edison Way - Section 1: From Massachusetts Avenue northeasterly to the Boston & Maine Railroad distant approximately Edison Way 283 feet. Section 2: From Edison Way, Section 1, northwesterly to Depot Square distant approximately 580 feet. Mr. Stanley Higgins represented the Engineering Department but no other person was present in favor or in opposition. At 8 :05 P. M. Mr. Herbert Berliner arrived at the meeting. He said that he would like some consideration be given to a rush job on Edison Way because it will close his business. He said that he would not he able to operate unless there is some consideration given him. The Chairman stated that the usual procedure is for the proponent to make his statements. In this case, the proponent is the Town and everyone interested is familiar with the plan of Edison Way going from Mas- sachusetts Avenue to the railroad and then from Edison Way to Depot Square. He explained that the next in order of procedure is for anyone in favor of the layout to be heard and then anyone opposed to be heard. He said that apparently Mr. Berliner desc .otocomb' in any one of these categofleby end-Mr..:Berliner agreed. The Chairman asked if Mr. Berliner wished to make a comment on the timing of the construction and if his business would be closed unless the Town keeps an open access to his business. Mr. Berliner replied that the statements were correct. Mr. Higgins asked if Mr. Berliner meant for people walking in and out, and Mr. Berliner replied that to walk in an out would be sufficient, if it were not a drawn out project that takes a month or two to construct. The Chairman said that the conditions would not be too good for the better part of a month and explained that there would be the excavation, filling of gravel and the drainage to do. Mr. Berliner said that all he asks is some con- sideration, that the Town just does not do the work and leave him without means of access because his payroll will still be going on whether he is doing business or not. 491 Mr. Gay asked if he would state that a walk to his place of business would be sufficient and Mr. Berliner replied that a walk would have to be suf- ficient, but he would like to have the Edison Way section speeded up. Mr. Reed explained that a way will have to be kept open for deliveries to the stores. The Chairman explained that there is a forty foot taking and the travelled way will be thirty feet wide which will leave five feet on each side and the Town will make sure that the five feet on his side is kept open. Mr. Berliner said that all he wants :is realonable consideration as he realizes these thingsAhave to be done. He inquired about the timing and asked if the project would be done after passed by Town Meeting. The Chairman replied that if the Town vote the money, specifications will be drawn up and the project put out for bid and presumably will be awarded. He said that it might take four weeks to prepare t e project to let it out for bids. He said that a ver- tising would involve two weeks and it would be t least two months after the Town Meeting before any ph sical work is done. He stated that if the work is started on or before the middle of June, it would be doing well; Mr. Berliner said that July and August wouldIbe the best time for him, and the Chairman said that he would not go so far as to state that it could not be arranged, Mr. Berliner said that he might close his business and have all employees take vacations at the same time rather than stagger the vacations. The Chairman suggested that Mr. Berliner wait until the matter is acted upon by Town Meeting and,if approved, conteet' Mr. Burns two or three weeks aTher Town Meeting to find out the gtneral timing on the project. Mr. Berliner agreed and retired at 8:15 P. M. The hearing w as declared closed and Mr. Higgins retired. The Clerk left the meeting at 8:45 P . M. A. true record, Attest : à4ecøn /